Parris and I have always been big supporters of the various charities, both fannish and mundane, that raise funds through auctions at SF and fantasy conventions. It's a great way to raise money for worthy causes, have a little fun, and get some unique items into the hands of collectors. In fact, I just finished shipping off five huge boxes of books, games, t-shirts, and other collectables to our hotel in Reno, to donate to the various charity auctions at worldcon.

(Some items will go to SFWA Emergency Medical Fund auction, some to the BWB fund-raising drive to pay for their party, some to the worldcon's own charity).

Unfortunately, there are a couple items that won't be auctioned at worldcon. We had hoped to bring a couple of signed scripts from the first season of the HBO series GAME OF THRONES with us, and the good folks in Belfast were kind enough to donate them. Dan Weiss sent them across the pond (registered and priority, signature required).

All that arrived was a battered envelope and Dan's cover letter.

The US post office delivered the envelope in a plastic baggie with a pre-printed note apologizing for the "damage." But this was no error in handling. The envelope was torn open at one end, and both scripts were gone, though Dan's letter remained.

I am convinced the scripts were stolen.

Last year we donated a signed STAR TREK script to a charity auction and it brought $1200. These two scripts may not have gone for quite that much, but they would have brought home some significant bucks. Someone in the US Post Office (we believe the package made it across from Belfast relatively unscathed) recognized their value and removed them.

So... I am putting out the word to all my fans and readers. Whoever sold these scripts will presumably try to cash in at some point. So if any of you ever see scripts fitting this description turn up on ebay, one of its competitors, or on some dealer's table -- notify me at once, and report the stolen property to whatever local authorities are appropriate.

Here's what was taken: two teleplays, final shooting scripts for episodes nine and ten of season one, "Baelor" and "Fire and Blood," autographed by writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and director Alan Taylor, printed on white paper.

Like Bloodraven, I have a thousand eyes and one. So let's keep 'em all peeled, boys and girls.

That's really despicable. My grandfather makes diamond drill bits. One day, FedEx 'misplaced' a package of his, probably because the return sender had the word Diamond in their company name. When my grandfather made a stink about it--and the thief actually saw the diamonds (which are industrial, so basically looked like tubes of yellow glitter)--the package mysteriously reappeared. So miracles do happen. I'd think given the potential for bad publicity, you have a shot at recovering them.

I wonder why they picked your package to rip open, since it was so smartly addressed to your assistant.

Seek justice! Go all Ned Stark on their asses! Well...except for the whole you-know-what.

Well, well. That's interesting. So mayhaps a postal worker who knows your business, or one who thought it was porn and was curious (when I was a kid I once saw the mailman perusing my neighbor's Playboy), or someone working for the Patriot Act.